For a long time, Psychology was mainly associated with mental illness, with people seeking help only when the suffering was already intense. However, this reality has been changing, as reflected in the article by Helena Paixão, Clinical Psychologist, written on the occasion of National Psychologist Day.
The article highlights that mental health is not merely the absence of psychological disorder, but also the capacity to cope with challenges, build healthy relationships and find meaning in life. One of the greatest transformations in recent years has been the growing demand for Psychology in a logic of personal development and prevention, just as one does physical exercise to care for the body's health.
Psychologists are present in multiple areas of society beyond the clinical context: in schools, companies, hospitals, sports, security forces, community intervention, scientific research and public policies. The article also alerts to the new challenges of mental health, such as hyperconnectivity, anxiety, burnout, loneliness and emotional overload, resulting from a culture that values speed, productivity and permanent availability.
Helena Paixão defends that caring for mental health is neither a luxury nor a sign of weakness, but a determining dimension of health and quality of life. The article concludes that, in a world that constantly encourages doing more, Psychology reminds us that before we are professionals, parents or caregivers, we are human beings, and that well-being is born from the capacity to relate to ourselves with greater awareness, balance and humanity.
